Parkinson's Disease: 5 Ways To Prevent Falls

One of the major challenges facing Parkinson's and elderly patients is falls. Broken hips, or sometimes more serious injuries, happen that could be stopped. But how do you prevent falls from happening to Parkinson's and elderly patients? Prevention begins with diligence and prior planning. Use this list to make your home or office a safer place.

5 Ways To Prevent Falls in Your Home

You can prevent falls and make your home a safer place:

1. Remove trip hazards to prevent falls in your home
   • Reroute power cords, phone cords and oxygen supply tubes
   • Remove small throw rugs and mats
   • Remove clutter and items that are laying on the floor or stairs
2. Use bed rails
   • Bed rails can keep you from falling out of bed
   • Bed rails can help you to gain your balance while getting up
3. Keep items within reach
   • Store heavy, sharp or glass items on waist high shelves, drawers and countertops
   • Reachers make retrieving hard to reach objects possible
4. Use a walker or rollator for balance
   • Use a walker or rollator (rolling walker with a seat) while walking
   • You can use a walker or rollator to steady yourself as you sit or stand
5. Use grab bars in the bathroom
   • The bathroom can be one of the most dangerous places in the home
   • Use grab bars when getting in and out of tub or shower
   • Utilize grab bars near toilets for balance
   • Have grab bars professionally installed

Fall Prevention Products

Visit the JRS Medical Aids To Daily Living website for the products listed in this article.

What Do You Think?

We want to know what you think. What products do you use to make your home safer? What would you add to this list? Leave us a comment or share your thoughts on Facebook, Twitter, or Google+. You can also find more home safety tips on the JRS Medical Home Safety Pinterest board.

Photo by kdinuraj